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Meet your community champions!

replies: 12

Hi everyone, We wanted to share with you the way that our wonderful Community Champions are here to support you. You may have noticed that a few of our Forums members are labelled ‘Community Champion’. Community Champions are volunteers within the Beyond Blue Forums who: have the time, skills and empathy to support other members regularly; help to welcome new members; are actively engaged members that help set the tone of our community. Our Community Champions are regular contributors to many conversations across the forums. They are a consistent and friendly voice that have committed to sharing their experience and expertise with this community. They are not health care professionals or clinicians. Like you, they have an experience with a mental health challenge or diagnosis – either for themselves or someone they care for. This forum is for people who understand what it feels like and have a lived and living experience of mental health challenges. Our Community Champions help everyone feel comfortable and confident by demonstrating what excellent peer support is all about. Click here to find out more about how you can become a Community Champion! This incredible team are excited to introduce themselves below, and we are sure you’ll see them around the forums in conversations important to you.

HELP..Am I posting in the right section?

replies: 10

Welcome to those who are considering posting for the very first time, welcome. Thought I would repost part of the words that Chris B posted awhile ago, (2014) as I can hear that people are unsure if they are posting in the right section or worried that they are posting "the wrong thing". 1.A good title makes the difference Just like a headline in a newspaper, when scanning the dozens of threads to click into, it’s only natural that people will choose the ones that resonate with them most. A title that entices the reader, or asks a question, is likely to get a better result than something non-descriptive like “Depression” or “I don't know what to do”. If you think you’re not good at choosing titles, leave it till last. Spend time writing your post, then perhaps choose a sentence from what you’ve written as the title. 2.Join in threads that have already been posted We all have our own unique stories, but part of the reason for joining a forum like this one is because you know that you will have a lot in common with others who are posting. Before starting a new thread, have a look through the current topics being discussed and see if there’s a conversation you can join in with. It can be quite common to have a handful of very similar threads happening at any one time, with members seemingly unaware that there are others right there who are going through the same thing. Talking to other members on their threads is a great way of getting yourself known so that when you post a thread of your own, people may respond quicker because they recognize your name. 3.Choose the most appropriate section for your post Many people browse the forums looking for stories specifically to do with pregnancy and parenting, employment, grief, loss, separation etc. Going straight for the “Depression” section may seem like the easiest option, but this section is often the busiest, so your post is more likely to get lost among the threads. Making good use of the different forum sections not only helps keep the forum relevant, but you’re more likely to find others who are going through the same experiences as you. Also, if you're wanting to discuss issues of trauma, abuse, suicidal thoughts or self-harm, it's really important you post in the designated section to avoid triggering others who may not wish to read about these topics. Mostly..just come and chat, we are here for you. Our amazing wizards in the background will see your message ends up in the right spot. Sarah

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Not myself

replies: 9

So where to begin......... I am in my early 50's. Had a great job, have a beautiful house, have a fantastic daughter and have fantastic friends. Only problem is that I have had to move away to remote North because of husband's job. He has always wanted to work up north and being the good wife, have come with him. It has been 3 months now. I have not found employment and to be honest, only really started looking in the last month. Applications are in! I miss my daughter terribly along with my home and friends and cooler climate. Moving to the heat with menopause.......what was I thinking!! So, maybe drinking a bit more than I should......and had a massive blow out with the hubby. Packed my bags, ready for divorce. next day, couldn't breathe, massive anxiety attack.........and apologised for my behaviour. We had a chat and thought it was a good idea I chatted with someone. So, Here I am. I haven't really met any one here and those that I have are much younger with young families so we really don't have any similar interests. I walk in the morning then tend to hibernate in the air conditioning for the rest of the day. Have a small dog for company during the day and hubby works long hours. Positives are that I'm with my husband of 26 years, in a fairly nice house (air conditioned) and am pretty healthy apart from that dreaded menopause hot flush and mood swings. Love cooking, but with just the 2 of us now, tend to scale back. Did the depression test, I am mild and yes have always had a bit of anxiety when things get yukky - only had two bad attacks that i remember. I think i am just bored and lonely!!

Little Joe

replies: 6

High all I am a new chum with an anxiety problem, I have been a workaholic all my life an an ex country wheat belt farmer. I am now living in the city and now retired. I do a few little jobs for locals although now because of a couple of health issues I now seem to have way too much time on my hands and wait in the garden for a weed to come up (not really but!!! ). My problems is how to think positive about what may or may not happen re my heath when I do realize I cannot change the result what ever it may be. People say think positive but as you guys know it is not that simple. Anyway this is a way I hope may help, is there a meeting place in Perth similar to an AA type where we get together and verbally discuss our personal issues??

I don't feel I belong anywhere

replies: 4

Hello. I'm a 68 year old woman. I've been depressed and anxious probably all my life. I believe the depression is a symptom of not just childhood trauma, but ongoing traumas. I've had so many different diagnoses over the years, and different treatments, but I continue to get depressed. I've tried hard to get well, and feel like I've failed. I live alone and have three grown up children. No other family. I feel very lonely, and any friends I used to have, I've lost. I've never had a healthy relationship. Weekends are the worst. Thanks for reading this.

Just want to hide from it all

replies: 1

Hi all, i’m new to these forums so bare with me. I can get down every now and then but there are so many things affecting me right now that I just feel unable to deal with to the point where I have been drinking a bit just to try and get some sleep. I’m in my last semester of university and have several assessments and exams going on. I’ve been juggling nearly full time study with full time work until this week when my employer verbally abused me and I have been to afraid to go back. On top of this all next week is the first anniversary of my mother’s passing and I just keep remembering all those final moments when she was in palliative care this time last year. I know that these are all pretty valid reasons to make me feel as depressed as I am but I don’t want to go out, talk to anyone, do anything and struggling to do any uni work even with a final exam tomorrow and I just generally feel burnt out and not enjoying life. I’ve tried counselling once but didn’t find it particularly helpful as I am not very forthcoming. Would really appreciate some ideas and support to try and get me through these next few weeks xx

Gday

replies: 1

Gday guys been a member for a while but this is the first time I'm posting. Names carlo and I have a question to ask I've been at my current employer for 2 years now and for basically the 2 years have been great and I havent had issues but last month my work hired a casual who was alright for 2 weeks with me , then we had an argument where he called me lazy, an animal and someone who cant think and is dumb. Which has made my anxiety and depression worsen. It came to a head when my boss took me aside to suggest I look for a jeep job. Which has made me even more anxious and depressed. I wake up in terror of the thought of going to work and I'm not happy to do the job i have to do .

Gender Reveal Depression

replies: 12

I’m 8 months pregnant and devastated that I’m having a girl. We tried to conceive for a long time and the only thing that got me through was the thought of my precious son at the end. The day we found out it was a girl (we found out at 10 weeks) I hated being pregnant and I’ve found no joy in this pregnancy since! Some days it’s so bad I can’t even get out of bed. I have no desire to name her or do a nursery for her so my husband has had to do it all. I have no idea why I feel like this and I can’t stop these feelings. The thought of being a girl mom fills me with dread... all the hair braiding, temper tantrums, outfit changes, ballet lessons ect ect are just not what I wanted for the rest of my life. Everyone keeps telling me I don’t know what type of girl I’m having.. she could be a tomboy, she could be really sporty.. but I know my luck in life and she will be the girliest girl around. Im sorry for all the negativity but I have been carrying this around with me for months. I just don’t see a way out! I’ve asked for professional help but unless I can pay $70 a session there isn’t any help out there. I’m hoping someone here has been through the same thing and can relate. Please don’t me and think badly of me. I know this is not how you are supposed to feel and that I should just be happy I’m having a healthy baby

this is way too hard

replies: 2

seeking help should be easy for all not spend 3 hours researching how to use a forum.i am new to this and have had it already.people need help now

Buddies & Monitoring

replies: 3

I'm wondering if anyone might be able tp help me with some monitoring. My mind is in a strange state of flux and I'm aware I could go downhill as well as up. I want someone's help to stay on a simple program that Ive agreed with them. I want someone who will schedule a call to me maybe once a week to discuss how its going and if the goal in mind is one that cam be reached. If it works we might really have something to say. I want to run this until end of Jun when I plan to begin a search for employment. I know that my mind drifts. There is no direction in my life at all at the moment other than what I give it myself. I wander around the house, forgetting things, losing track of what I'm doing. As I go through this approach to addressing some types of anxiety it is driving others, which I hope to then bring down with routine and habit. At the same time I've received a payout and have maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity to address something. I don't want to wander off into obscurity. Any help would be appreciated. I can bitch and moan, but I need an income, and I need to get healthy for that to happen. I want secure employment as best I can, with a good fit. Ive seen big change before. I was once a baker, I didn't get anywhere through a silver spoon. I know that I can transform but last time it took 5 years and real solid effort to be accepted into a different group so I could mix with them, there were exams to pass. I worked at night and studied in the day. I made my way up to something. Now Ive lost all that. This time I am taking all that learning and experience. Can anyone out there help with 4 or 5 phone calls over a month and a schedule stuck on their fridge with my name on it? Thanks

New and confused

replies: 2

Hi I'm new to the forum and dont know how to start. I guess explaining my situation might be a good place. I'm retired and have sons in their 40's who are using drugs. I am also mother sitting my 88 year old mother who has a home that she owns and shares with my brother and his wife who treat her well but work full-time so she is left on her own all day, which makes her very lonely. This is where my issues start. I feel guilty if I dont have her with me because I am retired. My mother still drives this is about the only thing she does do. She does not make her own meals if I were to leave it to hershe would eat a jam sandwich once a day. So I make sure she eats well by preparing most of her meals for her. She is very quick to make up lies when asked about anything and then forgets what she has said. She is genuinely scared of being left alone so we cannot go out at night unless one of the family are going to be with her. She is on a pension and most of her money is going to her other son (not the one she is sharing with) who she feels very sorry for because she remembers his childhood as being treated very badly by my father and she is trying to make up for this. This is where all the lying starts and where my other brother and myself get very angry because there is nothing we can do to stop this because it is what she genuinely wants to do. The person that matters to her most in this world his him. He is in his 60's living alone and has self esteem issues. My mother is a very shy person small in stature totally dependent keeps repeating herself because she doesnt communicate with any one other than myself my partner and her needy son who rings her on her mobile everyday. Once this happens shes in her car and off she goes. Im sorry if I am not going about my introduction the right way but I just want and need to know if there are similar circumstances happening to other people and if we can start to talk about it. This is what is getting me so down. I have self esteem issues. My brain is just not functioning I cannot be put under the slightest bit of pressure without boiling over. I am angry all the time. In a social situation i am the listener with no input because everyone else is smarter than me. I feel that if I dont get some sort of help I will eventually have a breakdown. Please this is all in a nutshell if there is any response to this I would very much appreciate it and if I can be directed to other posts that would also be appreciated. Thanks

Failure

replies: 2

I’m Wayne. Been working for myself all my life and just always had bad luck, failed and failed. I currently bought a franchise and now it’s not working because of me. I love to work, it’s my hobby. My wife, who is bloody amazing, deserves better than following me through failure after failure. Got 2 amazing grown kids who I love with all my being. They will stand by their mom I know. Easier and less complicated to get the deed done than worry about it. Don’t know why I joined this group, at least my wife will hopefully know why I’m taking this path if she finds this forum.

Meet your community champions! replies: 12

HELP..Am I posting in the right section? replies: 10

Not myself replies: 9

Little Joe replies: 6

I don't feel I belong anywhere replies: 4

Just want to hide from it all replies: 1

Gday replies: 1

Gender Reveal Depression replies: 12

this is way too hard replies: 2

Buddies & Monitoring replies: 3

New and confused replies: 2

Failure replies: 2